Attachment for musical instruments



July 9, 1929. J; DE z o 1.719.832

ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed June 20, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fax I INV ENTOR. JOJlZPH M73210 ATTORNEK,

Patented July 9, 1929.

PATENT GFFICE.

JOSEPH DE FAZIO, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed June 20,

My invention relating to a new and useful improvement in an attachment for musical instruments, is adapted for use on string instruments, such as guitars, banjos, mandolins, and the like.

It is an object of the present inventlon to provide an attachment which may be very easily and quickly mounted upon a musical instrument of this class, by the use of wh1ch 1 the operator may play by a single finger sevoral notes at one time, thus affording a means for chording and for sounding various tones, when desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment of this class which may be easily and quickly mounted upon a musical instrument and removed therefrom at will.

' Another object of the invention is the provision in a device of this class of a plurality of reciprocal string engaging members whereby the musical instrument may be played as ordinarily, and which may be used when desired for sounding several sounds simultaneously. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device whereby the fingering of the key board may be facilitated and the playing of the instrument rendered easier and more adaptable for learning by those particularly who are short fingered.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this kind which may be easily and quickly assembled, economically in use. Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by manufactured, durable and highly efficient 1927, Serial Iva 200,040.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on substantially line H of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the key members disassembled.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the chord operating members used in the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken on substantially line 77 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken on substantially line 88 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings I have illustrated a musical instrument having a sound board 11 and a key board 12 over which is stretched the strings 13 secured by the pegs 14-. The invention is illustrated in the drawings as attached to the key board 12 and comprises a suitable housing 14:, projecting outwardly from opposite sides of which at the opposite ends thereof are spring clips 15 and 16', these spring clips being formed substantially U shaped and secured at one end to the base of the housing 14. By pressing the various strings at different determined points along the key board 12, the strings Will produce a definite note when played, and to this end I have projected through the housing 14 a plurality of rods 16, each provided on its upper end with a head 17. Threaded into the base 18 of the housing are cup shaped guide members 19 each having an opening in its base, through which the rods 16 are adapted to project. Secured to the rods 16 is a presser head 20, this presser head being provided with a stem 21 which is threaded into the rod 16. Projected through the rod 16 ,is an abutment flange 22 which is adapted to engage one end of a spring 23, the other end of which engages the inner surface of the base of the cup shaped member 19. A number of these rods 16 are provided so that when it is desired to play the instrument in the usual manner, the housing will serve as a fingerboard, the various heads 17 being located at the various positions at which it is desired to press the strings against the key board. WVhen pressed against the key board, the presser head 20 will firmly clamp the spring 23 against the key board 12, the spring 23 serving to move the rod 16 upwardly into normal position upon release of a downward pressure therefrom. In this manner the instrument is played as usual.

It is often desirable in playing a stringed instrument of this kind, such as a banjo, mandolin or the like, that two or more of the strings be pressed at the same time to soimd two or more notes simultaneously. In playing ditiicult compositions this becomes a real task for the musician, and to render the playing easier, and facilitate the mastering so as to engage a number or" the strings 13 at different locations.

In Fig. 3 the rod 24 is provided with the key engaging head 25 and attached at its lower end to the transversely extending plate 26 which is adapted to engage the pins 27 and 28 projected through each set of rods 16. It is evident that upon a downward pressure of the rod 24 the plate 26 will force the rods 16, whose pins 27 and 28 are engaged by the plate 26, downwardly. The plate 29 is attached to the rod 30 and provided with a head 31, this plate engaging the pin 27 and the pin 32, so that, although the rods 30 and 24 are of the same length and the plates 29 and 26 are positioned in alignment with each other, a downward pressure on the rod 30 will prepare the instrument tor a chordmg differently than with downward pressure on the rod 24.

Simi arly the plate 33 is pressed by the ICC 34 which extends through the plates 35, 36 and 37, the location of the plates and the engagement of the pins which are projected through the rods 16 being detern'iined by the mechanic, and in this determination the chording desired by the notes intended to be sounded will be controlling.

As shown in Fig. 7 these plates mentioned compriset-wo sections 38' and 39 provided with openings 40 through which the rod 34 may project. These sections 38 and 39 are held together by the clips 41 and 42, each of which is provided with a channel in which the ends of the plates 38 and 39 may engage, this structure being clearly shown in Fig. 6L

As shown in Fig. 5 the rods 16, as well as the rods 34, 30, etc, are formed from flat strips of material 43 and provided, ad-

jacent the upper end, with shoulders 44 and 45 to limit the downward movement of the cap 46 which is pressed thereon, t-hemain body of the rod 43 being provided with a plurality of openings 47 through which the pins 48 may be projected. A flange 22 is formed at the lower end against which engages the spring 23 which is coiled about the circular portion 49 which is projected through the guide sleeve 50.

The structure is a simple and easy one to arrange and one quite effective for the purposes intended. The durability of its use is also believed evident as will readily appear.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details of structure shown, butdcsire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A musical instrument attachment of the class described adapted for mounting on a stringed musical instrument having a key board and strings extending over the same comprising: a housing; means for attaching said housing on said key board with its base in spaced relation thereto; a plurality ofplungers projected through said base and through the top. of, said housing, said plungers being longitudinally movable and adapted upon movement in one direction for pressing said strings individually at predetermined points against said key board; resilient means for normally retaining said plungers in spaced relation to said strings; a plurality of radially projecting pins on said plungers; a plurality of plates mounted in said housing and adapted for engaging said pins; a plurality of auxiliary plungers projecting through the top of said housing) and engaging said plates, said. auxiliary plunger-s being longitudinally movable, the movement of said plungers in one direction effecting a movement of a plurality of said first named plungers into. engagement with said strings.

2. A musical instrument attachment of the class described adapted for mounting on a string musical instrument having a key board and strings extending over said key board, comprising: a housing; a plurality of longitudinally, independently movable plungers projected through the base'and the top of said housing and each adapted, upon movement in one direction, for engaging one of said strings; resilient means for normally retaining said plungers in non-engaging position; a plurality of horizontally disposed plates positioned in said housing and lying in different planes, said plungers project-.

ing through said plates; a plurality of independently movable auxiliary plungers projected through the top of said housing and engageable with said plates; and means engageable with said plates formoving said first mentioned plungers into operative position upon downward movement of said auxiliary plungers.

3. A musical instrument attachment of the class described adapted for mounting on a string musical instrument having a key board and strings extending over the same, comprising: a housing; a plurality of independently, longitudinally movable plungers projected through the base and the top of said housing and each adapted, upon movement in one direction, for engaging one of said strings at a predetermined point; a plurality of separate, independently movable plates positioned in said housing, said plates lying in various planes; radially projecting means on said plungers engageable with said plates; a plurality of longitudinally movable auxiliary plungers projected through the top of said housing and extending thereinto, each of said auxiliary plungers being engageable with one of said plates, inward movement of said auxiliary plungers effecting, through the engagement of said plates with said radially projecting means, movement of said first mentioned plungers into engaging relation to said strings; and resilient means for normally retaining said first mentioned plungers 1n non-engagmg po- 7 sition.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specificatlon.

JOSEPH DE FAZIO. 

